A DRUG FORTRESS
CUNNING WORK OF BANDITS. MANUFACTURE.; SMUG GlilNG. A drug fortress in the wil'ds of the Sliansi Province has lately been engaging the serious attention of the Chinese Government at Nanking. For some time past, during the interludes of civil war, the Government has been endeavouring to discover the source of supply of the drug kno'wn as "White Powder,” which consists of a heroin and other narcotics. The supply appeared to come from all points of the compass. A consignment would be captured going north, and immediately afterwards another would be met goingsouth, but worst of all the armies of all parties were freely supplied from some inscrutable source. .... It has recently been disclosed that the drug is manufactured in Sin* chuang. This small town, containing over 15,000 inhabitants, has long been known as the impregnable fortress of a brigand army numbering over 5000 men. well equipped with machine-gun, rifles and ammunition. According to recent captives, tlm whole town .is employed in the manufacture and distribution of the drug. There is a well-organised government on communal lines, and profits are shared according to the value of work done. The manufacture of the drug is undertaken by the women, young girls and boys, while every able bodied fftiau is mobilised for the army and convoys. The duties of the army are to convoy the drug to the first distributing stations, whence it is smuggled an over China by people who think u comes from tiie coast. The army m its spare time occupies itself with ordinary brigandage as a camouflage. One of its principal activities is to disarm all stray patrols, deserters, and small bands of the various partisan armies and its outposts extend for over a hundred miles. In this manner the fortress has already acquired over 200 machine-guns. 5000 rifles and Mauser pistols, and a battery of field) artillery. For ammunition the community relies on exchanging the drug with Government or partisan troops for cartridges.
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Hokitika Guardian, 12 June 1931, Page 5
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328A DRUG FORTRESS Hokitika Guardian, 12 June 1931, Page 5
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